The Week Ahead: Asia, week to 9 August 2026

Economies: the week just gone

Singapore competitiveness requires deeper ASEAN integration, SIIA states: Singapore's long-term economic strength depends on closer ASEAN ties, a new Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) report reveals. Domestic reforms alone cannot secure this strength, the think tank concludes, advocating for regional cooperation on energy, AI, finance, and supply chains.

Singapore's ONE Pass Holders Double to 8,500 by End-2025: Singapore's Overseas Networks and Expertise (ONE) Pass holders reached 8,500 by end-2025, more than doubling since the scheme's 2023 launch. This growth reflects the city-state's strategy to attract top global talent.

Thailand's TCCT Updates Digital Platform, Modern Trade, On-Demand Delivery Rules: Thailand’s Trade Competition Commission (TCCT) is updating its competition guidelines for digital platforms, modern trade, and on-demand delivery services. This move addresses rapidly changing business models across key sectors.

Thai Hotels Association Urges Lower Initial 3% Accommodation Tax: Bangkok's hotel industry is pushing back against a proposed 3% accommodation tax, with the Thai Hotels Association (THA) advocating for a lower initial rate to support tourism recovery and address unfair competition from unlicensed operators.

Jharkhand Coal Mining Spurs Santhal Labour Migration, Raising Industry Risks: Coal mining and climate impacts in India's Jharkhand state compel Santhal communities into temporary labour migration, creating operational risks for resource industries and affecting labour supply in other states.

Markets: the week just gone

Quanta Computer Raises US$2.16 Billion in Record Taiwan GDR Offering: Taiwanese electronics firm Quanta Computer secured US$2.16 billion through a Global Depositary Receipts (GDR) offering. This marks Taiwan's largest equity transaction since 2005 and its biggest GDR issuance ever.

HKEX Names Michael Ho Strategy Head, Kevin Rumjahn Shifts Roles: Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) appointed Michael Ho as its new managing director and head of group strategy. This move, effective September 2026, sees Ho joining from Oliver Wyman. Kevin Rumjahn transitions to lead the CEO Office and strategic relations.

Palantir Shares Gain 29% as Q2 Revenue Exceeds Projections; Storage, AMD Guidance Disappoints: Technology company earnings faced investor scrutiny this week, with strong performance often failing to satisfy. Palantir bucked the trend, while storage firms and Advanced Micro Devices saw shares fall on cautious outlooks.

Alun Evans Rejoins Linklaters Singapore Corporate Practice for M&A, Private Capital Focus: Alun Evans returns to Linklaters' Singapore corporate practice as a partner in mid-August, focusing on cross-border M&A, private capital, and infrastructure across Southeast Asia and India. The move strengthens the firm's regional advisory capabilities.

Freshfields Appoints Sean Donovan Singapore Private Capital Partner, Tim Mak Leads Hong Kong: Freshfields has appointed Sean Donovan as a private capital partner in Singapore, effective August 3. Tim Mak also assumes leadership of the Hong Kong office.

Banking & Fintech: the week just gone

DBS, OCBC Upgrade Outlooks; UOB Cautious on Fees After Q2 Results: Singapore's three largest banks reported Q2 earnings, with DBS and OCBC revising full-year forecasts upwards. UOB, however, adopted a more conservative stance, particularly on fee income. Wealth management remained a primary earnings driver for all three lenders.

HSBC US$1 Billion Buy-Back Misses Estimates, Shares Fall 2.5%: HSBC Holdings announced a US$1 billion share repurchase, its first since October. This amount fell below market expectations, causing shares in Hong Kong to drop 2.5%. The lender reported strong second-quarter profits, but prioritises capital for dividends and loan demand.

Singapore FinTech Association Unveils Payments Conduct Code: The Singapore FinTech Association (SFA) introduced a voluntary Payments Industry Code of Conduct. This framework establishes professional standards for payment service providers (PSPs) in Singapore, aiming to boost transparency and ethical dealings within the sector.

UOB Sells Asset Management Arm to Allianz Global Investors for S$555 Million: UOB will divest its asset management division to Allianz Global Investors for S$555 million. The agreement also establishes a long-term distribution partnership, sharpening UOB's wealth advisory focus across Asia.

HSBC H1 2026 Pre-Tax Profit Rises 23% as Asia Operations Drive NII: HSBC reported a 23% increase in first-half 2026 pre-tax profit, reaching US$19.5 billion. Higher net interest income and wealth fees drove the gains. The bank also raised its full-year net interest income outlook.

Industries: the week just gone

South Korea Targets 10 GW Solar, Grid Upgrades for AI Power Needs: Seoul plans significant energy and infrastructure overhauls to support its semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) sectors. The government will add over 10 gigawatts (GW) of new solar capacity by 2027 and reform electricity pricing and water supply systems.

Hanoi Apartment Speculators Face Losses as Market Cools: Hanoi property speculators struggle to offload units bought during the 2024-2025 boom. Rising mortgage rates and falling prices make finding buyers difficult, forcing many to accept losses.

Apple India Sales Exceed US$10 Billion Amid Premium Market Shift: Apple's India operations recorded US$10 billion in annual sales for the first time. This milestone demonstrates a growing consumer preference for premium devices, even as overall smartphone unit sales decline in the market.

CapitaLand China Trust H1 DPU Falls 1.6% After Mall Sale; Cost of Debt Drops: CapitaLand China Trust (CLCT) reported a 1.6 per cent decline in its distribution per unit (DPU) for the first half ended June 30, 2026, reaching S$0.0245. This drop largely reflects the divestment of CapitaMall Yuhuating last October. Excluding the divested asset, CLCT’s DPU would have increased by 2.9 per cent.

Thailand's Commerce Ministry pushes premium rice at Manila expo: Thailand's Ministry of Commerce presented diverse premium rice varieties at the World Food Expo (WOFEX) 2026 in Manila. This initiative seeks to expand bilateral trade with the Philippines and build market recognition for Thai rice.

Wealth: the week just gone

ANAROCK: India Residential Property Sees Unusual Concurrent Rise in Prices, Rental Yields: India's residential property market shows an unusual concurrent rise in both home prices and rental yields. ANAROCK Research data, spanning 11 major cities from 2019 to Q2 2026, reveals this trend. Noida and Gurugram lead in capital appreciation and yield improvements.

SEBI's GARUDA Framework Accelerates India AIF Launches to 10 Days: India's capital markets regulator, SEBI, has shortened Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) scheme launch times to 10 working days. This operational change aims to streamline capital deployment for fund managers.

China's New Offshore Trust Tax Scrutinises Pan Shiyi's Wealth: Beijing's new tax rules for offshore trusts are tightening scrutiny on China's ultra-rich, bringing property tycoon Pan Shiyi's Cayman Islands structure back into focus. A flat 20 per cent levy applies across a trust's lifespan.